Means for suspending ventilation tubing



N0v. 19 1940. n F M, B|Ns 2,222,497

MEANS FOR susPENDING VENTILATION TUBING Filed Jan. 27, 1940 PatentedNov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR SUSPENDING VENTILATIN TUBINGFrankM. Bins, Butte, Mont.

Application January 27, 1940, Serial No. 316,048

5 Claims.

This invention is a novel improvement in means for suspending exifbleVentilating tubes, such as sho-wn in my U. S. LettersgPatent No.1,833,704 dated November 24, 1931, said tubes being principally used inmines and the like for conveying air under pressure into the shafts anddrifts of the mines, and being formed of heavy fabric such as canvas,and having two parallel exterior longitudinal seams provided with spacedgrommets for receiving the hooked ends of yoke spreaders strung along a,messenger wire or cable extending through the mine shaft or drift,whereby when the ventilation blower of the tubing system is inoperativeor closed down for repairs, and the air pressure is thus diminished inthe tubing, full collapsing of the tubing is prevented, the two-seamsuspension at all times maintaining an opening throughA the collapsedtubing allowing free passage of air and preventing the building up ofexcessive backpressures and eliminating any whipping and fluttering ofthe tubing lines when the air pressure is restored therein, as set forthin my aforesaid patent.

In my above mentioned patent the yoke spreaders were such that when thetubing was suspended from a horizontal or substantially horizontal wire,as when hung in a tunnel or underground drift, and when the tubing wasdeated, a pocket would form at the top of the tubing between theparallel seams in which water, debris, dirt, or stones would collect,thus presenting an undesirable feature.

'I'he principal object of my present invention is to provide novel yokespreaders for such twoseam tubing, adapted to support the fabric of thedeflated tubing between the seams in substantially a stretchedcondition, and wherein one side seam will be disposed substantiallylower than the other seam, thereby imparting suiiicient slope to the topof the tubing that water, dirt, debris, or stones cannot gather orcollect between the seams, the yoke spreaders at the same timepreventing the tubing from fully collapsing when deflated.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates several practical embodiments thereof, to enableothers to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims, thenovel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, forwhich protection is desired.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a section (Cl. 13S-54) of inflatedtubing suspended by my novel yoke spreaders.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the same tubing section whendeflated and supported by said spreaders. 6'

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one form of yoke spreader.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of spreader.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a further modified 10 form of spreader. v

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a still further modif-led form of spreader.

The tubing l is preferably formed of heavy fabric, such as canvas or thelike, treated so as l5 to be relatively airtight, and is provided withtwo spaced parallel longitudinal seams 2 formed on the exterior of thetubing preferably by longitudinal folds in the fabric which folds aresingle or double stitched along the line 3 (Fig. '20' 2), or the foldsmay be cemented together or formed in any other desired manner, samebeing of suflicient width to permit the insertion of series of grommetsor eyelets 4 therein, the eyelets in the two seams 2 being disposedoppo'- 25 site each other and adapted to receive the hooked ends of thespreaders 5, which as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 preferably compriselengths of stiff wire or the like bent to suit the approximate curvatureof the inilated tubing l, the out- 30 er ends of the spreaders 5 beingbent to form hooks 6 for engaging the grommets 4. Hooks 6 are of suchdepth that no portion of the spreader 5 touches the tubing, per se, wheninflated or deflated. Each spreader 5 is provided "35 with a suspensionhook 'l offset towards one end of the spreader 5 tosupport the same froma messenger wire W extending into the mine tunnel, drift, or shaft whichis to be ventilated.

'Ihe inflated form of tubing I is shown in Fig. l, the tubing beingsubstantially circular. When however the air pressure within the tubingis released or decreased, the tubing will partially collapse, assumingthe form shownin Fig.'2, the L' spreaders 5 maintaining the seams 2spaced apart, as when inflated, thereby preventing the full collapse ofthe tubing and preventing the formation of dams therein due to bucklingof the collapsed tubing.

In my aforesaid patent, the hooks on the spreaders were disposed at thecenters thereof, and consequently the suspended tubing would have itstwo seams disposed in the same horizontal plane, and thus when thetubing was y. deflated pockets would ibe formed. at the top 55 when thetubing is suspended one seam will be disposed at a considerably lowerelevation than the otherseam, such arrangement permitting the tubing tobe'fully inated as indicated in Fig. 1, but when deflated thespreaders 5main--` taining the upper portion of the tubing between seams 2 in asubstantiallystretched condition While sloping downwardly towards oneside of the tubing sufficiently to prevent the accumulation of water,debris, rocks, etc., on the upper portion of the tubing, the spreaders 5moreover preventing the tubing from fully collapsing when deflated, sothat the tubing will not whip when air pressure is restored in thetubing due to the building up of back-pressures, as is experienced whenlusing a single seam tubing in which total collapse is permitted. The useof spreaders such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 therefore obviates theobjection to the spreaders shown in my aforesaid patent, and moreoverresults in increased llength of service for each tubing section beforereplacement is necessary. Instead of using sp-readers such as shown inFigs. l, 2 and 3, a modified spreader might be used as shown in Fig. 4in which the spreader 8 comprises a substantially straight length ofstiff Wire or the like., having the suspension hook 9 (similar tohook 1) 4thereon adjacent to one end. The adjacent end of the spreader 8is upturned as at I to form a grommet hook between the members 9 and I0.The opposite end of the spreader is bent downwardly as at II for adesired length, and has its lower end rounded upwardly and outwardly asvat I2 to form the grommet hook at the opposite end of the spreader. Thespreader 8 shown in Fig. 4 will operate substantially the same as thespreader 5 shown in Fig. 3, since it will permit one seam 2 of thetubing to hang at a considerably lower elevation than the opposite seamwhen supporting the tubing from the messenger wire W. The proportionsare such that no portion of spreader 8 touches the tubing I, wheninflated or deated. l

Fig. 5 shows a further modifledform of spreader, the same comprising asubstantially straight length of stiff wire or the like, I3, having asupporting hook Il disposed nearer one end thereof than the other. Theadjacent end o-f spreader I3 is provided with a relatively shallow hookportion I5, while the other end thereof is provided with a relativelydeeper hook portion I5, said hooks I5 and I6 being of sufficient depthto prevent the tubing from coming into direct Contact with the spreaderbar I3 when inflated or deflated, while at the same time the spreader I3will maintain one seam 2 of the deated tubing at alower elevation thanthe other, and thus will function the same as the spreaders shown inFigs. 3 and 4.

A still further modification of thespreader is shown in Fig. 6 which isformed of a substantially curved section ofv stiff wire or the like I'Ihaving a supporting hook I 8 disposed at substantially the centerthereof, instead of towards one end. At one endv of the spreader bar I'Iis a relatively shallow hook I9, and the other end of the spreader isbent downwardly as at 20 for a substantial distance and has its lowerend turned upwardly and outwardly as at 2I to provide a relatively deephooked portion at said end. Spreader Y I'I will support one seam 2 ofthe tubing at a substantially lower elevation than the .other seam 2.

Each of the spreaders shown in Figs. 3 to 6, when used with tubinghaving two spaced seams, will support the tubing, when deflated, so thatthe upper portion thereof will be maintained substantially in stretchedcondition with oneA side thereof disposed at a lower llevel than theother, the slope preventing the formation of pockets in the upperportion of the deflated tubing in which water, debris and rocks, etc.,might collect. At the same time, each of the spreaders will prevent thefull collapse of the tubing, and at all times will hold the seams 2ofthe tubing apart to maintain an open air passage within the tubvingsothat when air pressure is set up in the deflated tubing the air currentsare permitted to flowY freely therethrough, thus eliminating whippingand. fluttering of the tubing due to backpressure orv resistance to thefree air flow which whipping orfluttering of the tubing would result intearing the grommets 4 loose, or tearing the fabric seams 2,particularly when large size tubing is used. The two point suspensionmethod moreover divides the weight of the tubing, each grommet hook ofthe spreaders carrying an equal or nearly equal load, and strains arethus divided between same.

I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawing, forobviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a collapsible tube; a series of spreaders forsupporting said tube, said spreaders being adapted to be suspended froma support and engaging longitudinally spaced portions of the tube formaintaining the upper portion of the tube when collapsed insubstantially stretched condition andsloping downwardly toward one sideof the tube, thereby preventing the formation of pockets in saidportion; said spreaders each comprising a substantiallystraight lengthof relatively sti material having means at each end for engaging thetube, and having a support engaging portion disposed adjacent one endthereof.

2.,In combination with a collapsible tube; a series of spreaders' forsupporting said tube, said spreaders being adapted to be suspended froma support and engaging longitudinally spaced portions of the tube formaintainingk the upper portion .of the tube when collapsed insubstantially stretched condition and sloping downwardly toward one sideof the tube, thereby preventing the formation of pockets in saidportion; said spreadersl each comprising a length of relatively stiffmaterial having means at each end for engaging the tube; said meansbeing of different lengths; and having a support engaging portiondisposed adjacent the center thereof.

3. In combination With a collapsible tube having spaced longitudinalmembers on the exterior thereof provided with opposed grommets; a seriesof spreaders for supporting said tube, said spreaders being adapted tobe suspended from a support and engaging opposed grommetsv andmaintaining the upper portion of the tube when collapsed insubstantially stretched condition and sloping downwardly towards oneside of the tube, thereby preventing the formation of pockets in saidportion embraced between the spreaders.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3, said spreaders eachcomprising a substantially straight length of relatively stiff materialhaving a hook at each end for engaging a grommet in the respectivemembers, and having a support engaging hook disposed adjacent one endthereof.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 3, said spreaders eachcomprising a length of relatively stiIT material having a hook at eachend for engaging a grommet in the respective members, said hooks beingof different depths; and having a support engaging hook disposedadjacent the center thereof.

FRANK M. BINS.

